Ethan Clarke
Plastic Man, also known as Patrick Eel O'Brian, is a superhero in the DC Comics universe and a member of the Justice League. Created by cartoonist Jack Cole, Plastic Man first appeared in Police Comics #1 (August 1941) and was one of the first superheroes to incorporate humour into mainstream action storytelling. In addition to his comedic relief, Plastic Man is also one of DC's most dangerous heroes due to his immortality and ability to shapeshift, manipulate his body, and survive extreme conditions. Despite his powers, Plastic Man has never been a significant commercial success, but he has been a favourite character of many modern comic book creators, including writer Grant Morrison, who included him in the 1990s revival of the Justice League.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | Plastic Man |
| Other Names | Patrick "Eel" O'Brian |
| Powers | Immortality, Elasticity, Shape-shifting, Immunity to telepathy |
| Personality | Comedic, Eccentric, Talkative, Goofy |
| Position in Justice League | Full-time member |
| Enemies Defeated | Doctor Polaris, Martian Manhunter, Prometheus, Julian September, General Wade Eiling, Amazo, White Martian, Queen Bee |
| Allies | Batman, Steel, Zauriel, Wonder Woman |
| Notable Story Arcs | "Rock of Ages", "Divided We Fall", "Trial by Fire", "Plastic Man No More!" |
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What You'll Learn
Plastic Man's role in the Justice League
Plastic Man, also known as Patrick "Eel" O'Brian, is a member of the Justice League. He is a superhero with the power to manipulate his body to become anything or anyone, making him a shapeshifter. Plastic Man was initially in the superhero business for the money, which has affected his character development. He is known for his goofy powers and eccentric personality, always trying to make jokes and being comedic. However, in recent storylines, Plastic Man's powers have started to deteriorate, causing him to lose control of his body and raising questions about his mental state.
Plastic Man has played a significant role in the Justice League, particularly during Grant Morrison's run on the title. He was recruited by Batman to infiltrate Lex Luthor's Injustice League, where he successfully posed as the Joker. Plastic Man has also been instrumental in defeating several foes independently, such as a Jokerized version of Doctor Polaris. He has been a prominent character in crossovers with other superhero teams, including the Titans, Young Justice, and the Justice Society of America.
One of Plastic Man's notable characteristics is his immortality. He has survived a nuclear blast and has the ability to reassemble himself at the atomic level. However, this power also makes him dangerous, as he is not bound by logic or sanity. In the "JLA: Tower of Babel" arc, Plastic Man is frozen and shattered into pieces by Ra's al Ghul's League of Assassins. This experience traumatizes him, and he quits the Justice League, hoping to lead a regular life.
Despite his eccentricities and the trauma he experienced, Plastic Man is an important member of the Justice League. He has unique abilities that make him a valuable asset in combat and infiltration missions. Plastic Man's powers, combined with his comedic relief, make him a beloved character among fans and creators alike. However, the recent deterioration of his powers and its impact on his mental state adds a darker twist to his character arc.
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Plastic Man's powers and abilities
Plastic Man, also known as Patrick "Eel" O'Brian, is a superhero and member of the Justice League of America with a wide range of powers and abilities.
O'Brian was a small-time criminal who gained his powers after being exposed to an unknown chemical during a robbery. The chemical entered his bloodstream and caused a radical physical change, granting him all the properties of rubber and the ability to stretch, bend, twist, bounce, and mould himself into any shape imaginable. He can also inflate his body and limbs like a giant balloon.
One of Plastic Man's most notable abilities is his superhuman agility and flexibility, which far exceed the natural limits of the human body. He can alter his strength by growing or adding more muscle, allowing him to perform feats such as throwing a 1,400-pound shark. Plastic Man also possesses enhanced durability and is highly resistant to various forms of damage, including corrosives, punctures, concussions, and energy blasts. He is completely bulletproof and can heal rapidly from injuries, recovering in seconds without any sign of pain.
Plastic Man also has the power to change his size at will, allowing him to shrink or grow in size to suit the situation. He can turn himself into functional objects, such as automobiles, and can even fly by transforming into a flying object or vehicle. While he generally maintains his signature red, black, and yellow colour scheme, Plastic Man can change his colour with intense concentration. This ability, however, requires a significant amount of focus and is rarely used.
Plastic Man's powers also include the ability to grow strong teeth and fangs, as well as shape-shifting capabilities that allow him to impersonate others, such as when he posed as the Flash or Harlequin. His body is neither completely liquid nor solid, allowing him to freely transform his shape and material at will. Overall, Plastic Man is considered a formidable powerhouse, with Batman acknowledging his fear of him due to his atomic manipulation capabilities.
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Plastic Man's character development
Plastic Man, or Patrick "Eel" O'Brian, is a superhero with shape-shifting abilities who has been a member of the Justice League. Created by cartoonist Jack Cole, Plastic Man was one of the first superheroes to incorporate humour into mainstream action storytelling.
Plastic Man has played a significant role in various battles and crossovers involving the Justice League. He has been described as a dangerous and unpredictable character, with Batman considering him a secret weapon to be released in extreme scenarios. In the Rock of Ages storyline, Batman recruits Plastic Man to infiltrate the Injustice League, showcasing his ability to adapt and deceive.
Plastic Man's powers include the ability to stretch and shape-shift into any form, impersonating anyone from beautiful women to Adolf Hitler. However, he is vulnerable to extreme heat and cold, which can cause him to melt or stiffen. His unpredictable nature and unique powers make him a valuable asset to the Justice League, despite his unstable personality.
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Plastic Man's creation and history
Plastic Man, also known as Patrick "Eel" O'Brian, is a fictional superhero known for his elastic powers. He was created by cartoonist and writer-artist Jack Cole for Quality Comics in 1941. Cole, who had led a colourful life, including cycling across America at the age of 18, moved to New York in 1935 to pursue his passion for cartooning. In 1941, he was asked by Quality Comics owner Everett "Busy" Arnold to create a new hero for their upcoming Police Comics title.
Plastic Man's first appearance was in Police Comics #1, published in August 1941. In this issue, Eel O'Brian is introduced as a hoodlum and safecracker working with a gang to rob the Crawford Chemical Works. During the robbery, a stray bullet hits a chemical vat, showering O'Brian with acid. He flees the scene and collapses from the pain and the acid seeping into his wound. He is then taken to a mountain retreat called Rest-Haven, where he is cared for by monks. It is here that he discovers his body has been transformed and now possesses all the properties of rubber, allowing him to stretch, bounce, and mould himself into any shape.
O'Brian decides to use his new powers to fight crime and becomes Plastic Man. He conceals his true identity with a red, black, and yellow (later red and yellow) rubber costume, goggles, and by reshaping his face. As Plastic Man, he joins the city police force and eventually the FBI. Plastic Man became one of the stars of the Quality Comics lineup during the Golden Age of Comic Books (1938-1954). He was known for his quirky adventures and surreal slapstick humour.
In 1956, DC Comics acquired the character after Quality Comics shut down. Plastic Man has since been featured in various solo series and has interacted with other DC characters such as Batman as a member of the Justice League. He has also been adapted into animated television series and films, with voice actors such as Tom Kenny, Dana Snyder, and Michael Bell portraying the character.
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Plastic Man's appearance in other media
Plastic Man has been adapted into various media outside of comics, including animated television series and films. In these adaptations, he has been voiced by actors such as Tom Kenny, Dana Snyder, and Michael Bell.
Plastic Man appeared in several episodes of the animated series *Batman: The Brave and the Bold*, voiced by Tom Kenny, who is also known for voicing SpongeBob SquarePants. He was also mentioned in the *Justice League Unlimited* episode "The Greatest Story Never Told", although he never appeared on-screen. A short titled "Puddle Trouble", featuring Plastic Man, can be found on the DVD release of the 1979 *Plastic Man Comedy/Adventure Show*.
Plastic Man has appeared in several animated films, including *Injustice: Gods Among Us* and its sequel, *Injustice 2*, as a member of Batman's Justice League Task Force. He also made a cameo appearance in the *DC Super Hero Girls* episode "Welcome to Super Hero High" as a graduate of the eponymous school. Additionally, a parody character named "Plastic Sam" appeared in *Mad Magazine* #14.
Plastic Man has also been featured in crossover storylines with other DC Comics characters, such as the Titans, Young Justice, the Justice Society of America, and even the Looney Tunes in a humorous Superman & Bugs Bunny miniseries. He played a significant role in the "`Obsidian Age`" storyline, where he was discovered to have survived for 3,000 years in the Atlantic Ocean without decaying.
In the "JLA: Tower of Babel" arc, Plastic Man is defeated and shattered into pieces by Ra's al Ghul's League of Assassins, an experience that traumatizes him. He joins the Avengers for a short time but eventually returns to the Justice League when they need his unique skills to defeat the Martian Manhunter.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, Plastic Man is a member of the Justice League.
Plastic Man has the power to manipulate his body to become anything or anyone. He is also immortal and has survived a nuclear blast.
Plastic Man is considered dangerously unstable and is kept locked up as a secret doomsday weapon.
